China ignores Vatican and appoints bishop – Chris Buckley

From Reuters, via Scotsman.com News:

China pressed ahead with appointing a new bishop to its state-sanctioned Catholic Church on Sunday and warned the Vatican not to interfere, risking a deepening rift with the Vatican which objected to the promotion.

Ma Yingling was ordained bishop of Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan province, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Earlier, a Vatican-backed news service said the Holy See objected to Ma’s ordination because he was too close to the government and lacked pastoral experience. Hong Kong’s Cardinal Joseph Zen also urged the ceremony be called off.

Technorati Tags: China, Vatican